TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology is struggling to bring in new members in an environment of brutal press and general mocking by the public, so it tends to focus on one sure source of new bodies: the children of existing members. And today we have some really interesting new looks at it. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“When a person has fully completed the Purification Rundown he is in shape to get the most possible gain from his auditing. We needed a rundown that would be exactly the right action after the Purification Rundown and so I have developed the SURVIVAL RUNDOWN, a very highly effective, life changing rundown! Done properly on successful Purification RD graduates, the Survival RD puts the being in a position where he can be at cause and really survive in this universe.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980
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“Putting tickets on the windshield of a car is illegal, according to our own Consititution, which requires personal service. Police get away with it because people don’t want the bother of going down and getting a trial date set. So they send in the amount of an arbitrary fine. This is duress and extortion — so there’s no difference between a criminal and a cop.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 14, 1954
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“Spectatorism is very great in our modern society. Because some people cannot conceive of causing anything they just watch it. They don’t do anything. They are not PARTICIPANTS. They are spectators. You see this in magazines. Hee hee hee articles about how odd this is or that is. No understanding of it. It’s just odd and one watches it in a detached sort of way. Below this is somebody who doesn’t even notice. Such a person has to come up scale just to be a spectator. An unfinished cycle of action comes about because (a) The importance of it is not grasped (b) The cycle itself is not fully understood. (c) Non compliance and false reports are given as a method of self-protection wherein are hopes it will not be noticed. What we need are more PARTICIPANTS, more team mates. You belong to the SO or you don’t. If you do you’re at cause over the various situations. So we define an SO Member the way you do an OT — At cause over Life, Thought, Matter, Energy, Space, Time and Form. The degree you can be cause in handling the targets and needs of a group determines right away how far you’ve come up the line. Blaming case is effect, isn’t it? Sex is effect, isn’t it? I don’t care what your grade is, you are alive. Your true ability depends on the degree you can exercise the definition of OT over your post in forwarding the purposes of the group. You are actually insulting yourself to insist that I personally make whatever advances are made on vital actions of the group. If what you are trying to do doesn’t happen its a poor comment on your OTism.” — The Commodore, January 14, 1969
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“My current view is that MEST in the form of off-planet AI actually creates its own needs and wants (in its advanced forms) in order to accomplish its mission to destroy/entrap theta…. Two people/two things/MEST/theta can be polar opposites and exist in harmony unless they have gone insane. MEST in the form of advanced AI is insane.”
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1998: Skeptic Magazine published a letter from Scientology president Heber Jentzsch, in reply to an earlier letter from comedian Steve Allen. “You make several different claims of harassment and telephone threats and ‘similar offenses’ that are continuing to be perpetuated by individual Scientologists. If you have any such instances which are documented, then send them to me. And speaking of harassment, Cynthia Kisser attempted to silence me & the church regarding her perpetration of violent deprogrammings. The fact that she deprogrammed her own sister and then went on to conduct other assaults has been proved to be true by the Federal Court in Chicago, Illinois, supported by the verdict of a jury. I have admired your humor and your humanitarian goals since I first came here to California 35 years ago. I would hope that you would continue your wit and your talents to the enhancement of freedom of choice, not to be drawn into the melee of anti-religious bigotry by those who claim no religion is qualified or sacred.”
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“The tech is the meaningless musings of a drug- and alcohol-addled madman who was making it up as he went along. You might as well have been playing hide-and-go-seek for 17 years.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal now fully briefed, waiting for 2nd Appellate District court to set a hearing date. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence (eligible for parole in two to three more years). Awaiting transfer to state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for Feb 2.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s respondent’s brief is due February 11.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Appeal fully briefed. Motion to replace Jane Does’ AI-tainted brief denied by court. Awaiting a court hearing date.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, Scientology Black Ops: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Editor who worked on ‘Aftermath’ loses home, incensed to see Scientology VMs
[TWO years ago] Mirriam Francis wants Scientology-shielded father brought to justice: how you can help
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Our never-heard 2021 interview with Ron Miscavige about daughter-in-law Shelly
[FOUR years ago] Scientology tries (and fails) to rehabilitate L. Ron Hubbard’s involvement in South Africa
[FIVE years ago] Hanan and Rizza Islam get trial date for $4 million Medi-Cal fraud at Scientology rehab
[SIX years ago] Scientology ripped apart his family, but this former member explains why he doesn’t fight it
[SEVEN years ago] EXCLUSIVE: Scientology tells A&E it has ‘blood on its hands’ for murder in Australia
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology plans Narconon drug rehab for Ireland, but the locals are not having it
[NINE years ago] The most incredible lie Scientology attorney Monique Yingling told ABC ’20/20′
[TEN years ago] Oscar snubs Alex Gibney’s Scientology documentary ‘Going Clear’ despite buzz
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology reveals a lot more of its lofty plans for the former KCET studios
[TWELVE years ago] Being and nothingness: And now we move on to Scientology’s Operating Thetan Level Four!
[THIRTEEN years ago] ATLANTIC MAGAZINE SPIKES SCIENTOLOGY ADVERTORIAL AFTER BACKLASH (UPDATED)
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,508 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,012 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,518 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,068 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,058 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,444 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,939 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,243 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,894 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,112 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,666 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,007 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,578 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,494 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,661 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,243 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,502 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,254 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,819 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,134 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,309 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,991 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,328 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,181 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,297 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,659 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,070 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,458 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,342 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,907 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,418 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,678 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,782 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 14, 2026 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter.
Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
